Fence insulators



Jan. 1, 1963 H. LANGLIE EI'AL FENCE INSULATORS Filed May 8, 1961 INVENTORJ' #OWARD LANGL IE y EuswoRrnBJVsLwN Arramvsm- United States Patent 3,071,640 FEN (1E INSULATGRS Howard Langlie and Ellsworth R. Nelson, Eiiendale,

Minn, assignors to North Central Plastics, Incorporated, Eilendale, Minm, a corporation of Minnesota Filed May 8, 1961, Ser. No. 108,329 8 Claims. (Cl. 17415S) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in electric fence insulators such as are now commonly used in rural areas to provide temporary enclosures or fences for farm animals.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an improved insulator for electric fences which is so constructed that an electric fence wire may be readily attached thereto without the use of separable securing elements, and whereby the wire is not likely to accidentally become detached from the insulator when the fence 1S erected, said insulator also being so constructed that the fence wire may readily be detached therefrom when neces sary, to permit moving the fence from one place to another to facilitate pasture rotation and storage.

A further object is to provide a fence insulator com prising a body having a passageway extending transversely therethrough for receiving an electric wire, said passageway having an opening at its top through which the wire may be inserted into said passageway, and resilient means being provided in a wall of said opening for preventing the wire from accidentally becoming detached from said passageway when the insulator is in use.

A further object is to provide a fence insulator COIllprising a body having a plurality of annular fins or flanges provided thereon and spaced apart lengthwise of the insulator, and means being provided on one of said flanges and overhanging the space between it and an adjacent flange to provide a passageway for a fence wire, and resilient means cooperating with said overhanging portion to provide a restricted gap through which the fence wire may be snapped into said passageway by pressure, and whereby the wire cannot accidentally become detached from the insulator.

A further object is to provide a fence insulator of the class described comprising a wire-receiving passage, and resilient means being arranged over said passageway for inseparably retaining the wire therein under normal conditions, but permitting the wire to be detached from the insulator, when desired.

A further object is to provide a fence insulator comprising an elongated body having a plurality of circular drip fins or flanges secured thereto in axially spaced rela tion, adjacent flanges cooperating to provide a passageway for an electric fence wire, and resilient means being provided on said cooperating flanges and normally so spaced apart that they must be flexed when a wire is inserted into or removed from said passageway.

Other objects of the invention resides in the provision of a plastic fence insulator which readily lends itself to manufacture in mass production by pressure molding; which is non-conductive, is waterproof, and is non-breale able; and comprises means for preventing moisture from causing the wire to become short circuited, when the insulator is supported on a metal post; and in the unique construction of the wire retaining means on each insulator which comprises coacting resilient elements normally so spaced from one another that an electric fence wire may be forced therebetween with a snap action, and whereby there is little danger of the fence Wire accidentally becoming detached from the insulator when the fence has been completed.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing there has been disclosed a structure designed to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact features shown, as various changes may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a top view of an insulator shown secured to a fence post and having an electric wire supported therein;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of FIGURE 1, showing the passageway in the insulator with a wire positioned therein;

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the resilient detent flexed by the wire in the operation of forcing a wire into the passageway;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional elevation on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2, with the wire shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 5 is a top view of an insulator of slightly modified construction, comprising an elongated cylindrical body having a plurality of axially spaced circular drip flanges or fins secured thereto;

FIGURE 6 is a side view of FIGURE 5, showing a wire positioned in the insulator and the means provided for retaining it therein;

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but showing the resilient wire retaining elements distorted by a wire being pressed into the wire receiving passage in the insulator;

FIGURE 8 is a view, partially in section, showing an insulator similar to the one shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, but wherein a resilient mounting clip is inseparably secured to one end of the insulator by upsetting the end of the plastic insulator body by the application of heat and pressure thereto; and

FIGURE 9 is an end view of FIGURE 8.

The novel insulator herein disclosed and, as illustrated in FIGURES 1 to 4, inclusive, comprises an elongated body 2 comprising opposite end portions 3 and 4 integrally connected together by a reduced body portion 5, best shown in FIGURE 4.

End portion 3 is shown having a plurality of spaced lugs 6 projecting outwardly therefrom adapted to be seated against an upright supporting member such as a post '7. The insulator may be secured to post 7 by a fastening device, such as a nail 8 passing through an axially restricted bore or aperture 9 in the body 2 and having one end driven into the post 7, as clearly indicated in the drawing.

A pair of longitudinally spaced drip flanges 11 and 12. are provided adjacent the ends 3 and 4, respectively, of the body 2, and extend outwardly a substantial distance from said body to prevent moisture or water from running down the post and into engagement with the electric wire 13, which could cause a short circuit in the system.

The insulator body 2 is provided with a transversely disposed wire receiving passageway 14, as best shown in FIGURE 2. The upper portion of the insulator is formed with a diagonal slot or opening 15, as best shown in FIGURE 1, which communicates with the wire receiving passageway 14, but is normally partially obstructed to the passage of the wire 13 therethrough by a pair of resilient elements 16 and 17 which normally overhang the passageway 14 to prevent the wire from accidentally becoming detached from said passageway, when the fence is erected. It will be noted by reference to FIGURE 1 that the yieldable end portions of the detents or elements 16 and 17 are spaced relatively close to a pair of non yieldable projections 18 and 19 of the insulator body, whereby a wire cannot be inserted into the passageway 14 41 or removed therefrom without distorting or flexing the resilient detents 16 and 17, as clearly illustrated in FIG- URE 3. The resilient elements 16 and I7 constitute an important feature of the invention.

The angular disposition of the slot 1% in the upper portion of the insulator body 2 causes the wire to be positioned under the overhanging non-yieldable projections 13 and 19, when the wire is taut, as shown in full lines in FIGURE 1, whereby the Wire is unlikely to become detached from the insulator under normal use. To insert the wire into the passageway 14 or when removing it therefrom, the wire must initially be positioned as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1, to permit it to pass the non-resilient abutments 18 and 19 as will be understood.

The form of insulator shown in FIGURES to 7, inclusive, comprises an elongated cylindrical body 21 having a plurality of circular fins or flanges 22, 23, 2-4 and 25', integrally formed therewith. These flanges are preferably spaced as shown in the drawing, and serve to direct water flowing down the surface of the sulpporting post 26 from engaging the wire 13 and causing a short circuit between the live wire and the supporting post 26, particularly if the post is of metal. In FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 the insulator is shown secured to the supporting post 26 by a nail 8 similar to the one shown in the preceding figures.

Another important feature of the insulator shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 resides in the construction of the means provided thereon for supporting the wire in position on the insulator whereby it is not likely to become detached therefrom when the insulator is in use. To thus retain the wire in position on the insulator 21, a hookshaped member 27 is shown integrally formed with the body 21 and overhangs the space between flanges 23 and 24. A relatively smaller resilient detent or element 28 is shown fixed to the adjacent flange 23 and has its free end in the form of a lip 29 projecting outwardly therefrom under the free end of member 27. Thus, the members 27, 29 and flange 24 cooperate to provide a transverse wire-receiving passageway 30. It is to be understood that the free end portions of members 27 and 29 are normally spaced closer together than the diameter of the wire, but are sufficiently resilient to permit them to be separated by the wire, when the wire is pressed. downwardly therebetween, and into the passageway 30, as indicated in FZGURE 6, The remove the wire from the passageway 39, the wire is forced upwardly through the restricted gap between elements 27 and 29, until it snaps out of engagement with said elements as well be understood.

It will thus be seen that with the form of insulator shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7, the wire is inserted into the passageway 36 by distorting the overhanging resilient elements '27 and 29 in a manner quite similar to that shown and described with reference to the previous figures.

In the form shown in FIGURES 1 to 7, inclusive, the insulators are secured to the supporting posts 7-26 by nails 8 having their sharpened terminals driven into the posts, which preferably are of wood. It is to be understood however that the means for securing the insulators to the upright supporting posts may be varied in accordance with the type of supporting posts upon which the insulators are to be supported.

The insulator shown in FIGURES 8 and 9 distinguishes from the form shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 in that the elongated body 32 of the insulator has one end formed with a reduced extension 33 providing an annular shoulder 34 against which the intermediate portion of a resilient metallic mounting clip 35 is heated, as best illustrated in FIGURE 8. The mounting clip 35 has a central aperture 36 adapted to receive the reduced end portion 33 of the insulator body. To secure the clip 35 to the body of the insulator, the insulator is placed on one end and the clip 35 is then fitted onto the reduced extension 33 and pressed against the shoulder 34. A suitable heating device may then be applied to the shouldered end of the insulator body, under pressure, whereby the plastic material from which the insulator body is formed is quickly heated and becomes upset, as indicated in FIG- URE 8, thereby permanently securing the spring clip to the insulator body.

The spring clip 35 is shown comprising a pair of resilient legs 31 disposed in angular relation and each having an aperture 37 therein adapted to receive a supporting rod 38 as indicated in FEGURE 8. The resilient legs 31 are so shaped that when fitted onto the supporting rod they will grip the rod and retain the insulator in position thereon whereby it is not likely to vertically shift its position thereon.

The clip 35, is best illustrated in FIGURE 9. Its intermediate side edge portions 41 are slightly inwardly bent or flared to provide opposed reinforcing flanges 42 which serve to stiffen the central portion of the clip, when its legs 31 are compressed or bent inwardly to release the clips grip on the rod, thereby to permit vertically shifting the position of the insulator on the rod.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the construction of the rod-receiving apertures 37 providcd in the resilient legs 31 of the mounting clip 35. As shown in FEGURE 9, diametrically opposed portions of the wall of each aperture 37 are serrated, as indicated at 43 and 44, which serrations cooperate to firmly grip the supporting rod 38 to retain the insulator in position on the rod.

The novel fence insulator herein disclosed has been found to be extremely popular in the trade because it is non-conductive, non-breakable, and inexpensive in construction. Being made of a plastic material, such as polyethylene, it readily lends itself to pressure molding at extremely low cost, a highly desirable attribute in devices of this general type.

it is apparent that many modifications and variations of the invention hcreinbefore set forth may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. The specific embodiments described are given by way of example only and the invention is limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a fence insulator of the class described, a nonconductive resinous piastic body having opposite ends each provided with an annular drip flange, a wire-receivlag passage extending transversely through said body, a slot in the upper portion of said body through which a wire may be passed into or out of said wire-receiving passage, said slot being disposed at an angle diagonal to the longitudinal axis of said body, said slot having axially disposed opposite non-yieldable wall portions projecting inwardly over said passage and over a wire supported therein, and resilient elements coasting with said inwardly projecting nonayieldable wall portions to normally partially obstruct passage of a wire through said slot to retain the wire in said passage.

2. A fence insulator according to claim 1 further characterized by the presence of a mounting clip secured to one end of the insulator body, said clip comprising a pair of opposed resilient strap-like legs each having an aperture therein adapted to receive a supporting rod when said legs are bent inwardly to align said apertures, the resiliency of said legs causing them to frictionally grip the rod to retain the insulator in position thereon.

3. An insulator according to claim 1, wherein said resilient elements include terminals which are normallyv positioned in proximity to their respective inwardly projecting wall portions, thereby to provide restricted passages through which the fence wire cannot pass without distorting or flexing said resilient elements.

4. A fence insulator comprising an elongated, cylindrical, non-conductive waterproof body having a plurality 5 of annular flanges secured thereto in axially spaced relation along the length thereof, a hook-shaped member secured to said body and extending from one of said flanges and overhanging substantially all of the space between that flange and the next adjacent flange to provide a trans versely disposed Wire-receiving passage, and a resilient element extending inwardly from the next adjacent flange and underlying and cooperating with the free end of said hook-shaped member to provide a restricted gap through which an electric fence wire may be inserted into said wire-receiving passage or removed therefrom.

5. An electric fence insulator comprising an elongated plastic body having a reduced extension at one end forming an annular shoulder, means on said body forming a transversely disposed wire-receiving passage, and a mounting clip having an aperture therein intermediately of its ends, the diameter of said aperture being substantially the same as the diameter of said reduced extension, said aperture being fitted onto said reduced extension and said clip being secured thereto, the terminal of said extension being of increased diameter and abutting against said clip thereby to inseparably secure the clip to the insulator body.

6. An electric fence insulator according to claim 5, wherein said body has an axial restricted bore for receiving a device for mounting said insulator on a post or tree.

7. A fence insulator comprisin an elongated, cylindrical, non-conductive waterproof body having a plurality of annular flanges secured thereto in axially spaced relation along the length thereof, a hook-shaped member secured to said body and extending from one of said flanges and overhanging substantially all of the space between that flange and the next adjacent flange to provide a transversely disposed wire-receiving passage, resilient means extending inwardly from the next adjacent flange and underlying the free end of said hook-shaped member for preventing accidental detachment of the wire from said passage, 'a mounting clip secured to one end of the insulator body, said clip comprising a pair of opposed resilient strap-like legs each having an aperture therein adapted to receive a supporting red when said legs are bent inwardly to align said apertures, the resiliency of said legs causing them to frictionally grip the rod to retain the insulator in position thereon.

8. A fence insulator as defined in claim 7, wherein the Walls of the =r0d-receiving apertures in said resilient legs are serrated to resist relative movement of the mounting clip on the supporting rod.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,712,567 Caltrider July 5, 1955 2,829,192 ield Apr. 1, 1958 2,870,245 Malme Jan. 20, 1959 2,931,853 Wilson Apr. 5, 1960 2,961,479 Bertling Nov. 22, 1960 2,994,933 Wolfe Aug. 8, 196 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 962,302 France Dec. 5, 1949 478,356 Canada Nov. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE, OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,071,640 January 1,, 1963 i Howard Langlie e1; e1..-

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 47 for "axially" read axial column 3 line 47, for "6, The" read 6, To line 50 for "'well read will same column line 71, for "heated" read 1- seated Signed and sealed this 16th day of July 1963,

(SEAL) Attest:

VEENEST w. swlnE a DAVID LADD Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 O7l,64O January 1,, 1963 Howard Langlie et a1,

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 2, line 4L7 for "axially" read axial column 3,, line 47, for "6 The read 6 To line 5O for "well" read will same column line 71 for "heated" read seated a.

Signed and sealed this 16th day of July 1963.,

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST w. SWIDER DAVID D Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A FENCE INSULATOR OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, A NONCONDUCTIVE RESINOUS PLASTIC BODY HAVING OPPOSITE ENDS EACH PROVIDED WITH AN ANNULAR DRIP FLANGE, A WIRE-RECEIVING PASSAGE EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY THROUGH SAID BODY, A SLOT IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID BODY THROUGH WHICH A WIRE MAY BE PASSED INTO OR OUT OF SAID WIRE-RECEIVING PASSAGE, SAID SLOT BEING DISPOSED AT AN ANGLE DIAGONAL TO THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF SAID BODY, SAID SLOT HAVING AXIALLY DISPOSED OPPOSITE NON-YIELDABLE WALL PORTIONS PROJECTING INWARDLY OVER SAID PASSAGE AND OVER A WIRE SUPPORTED THEREIN, AND RESILIENT ELEMENTS COACTING WITH SAID INWARDLY PROJECTING NON-YIELDABLE WALL PORTIONS TO NORMALLY PARTIALLY OBSTRUCT PASSAGE OF A WIRE THROUGH SAID SLOT TO RETAIN THE WIRE IN SAID PASSAGE. 